HMRC phishers promise rebate

An email that claims to offer victims of the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data-loss scandal a tax rebate of £215 is a phishing scam, security experts have warned.

Anyone that receives the email should immediately delete it and definitely not reply, said security analyst Greg Day of McAfee.

The email offers recipients the chance to claim a refund but requires you to provide your bank details. The criminals behind this scam plan to use the data to clear out your account.

"This phishing attack has echoes of traditional get-rich-quick scams, preying on those keen to be compensated for the government losing their data. However, people must learn that there really is no such thing as free money," said Day.

HMRC was heavily criticised after two discs containing records on 25 million UK citizens went missing last November. Since then, further instances of data loss have been revealed.

The scandal saw HMRC being nominated for the Internet Service Provider's Association (ISPA) Villain of the Year award.

However, Day noted with some irony that the whole HMRC scandal had led to many people becoming more careful about giving away their data.

"Recent high-profile data loss incidents have left the public more vigilant about handing over information that has any link to HMRC, so this may not be the most thoroughly considered phishing attack," Day continued.

Last month, HMRC came in for further criticism when its website crashed on the deadline date for millions of UK citizens to file their tax returns online.

www.mcafee.com
www.ispa.org.uk
www.hmrc.gov.uk

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